VANCEBORO – Somewhere over the course of almost every athletic contest, a game-changing moment occurs.

In New Bern’s 36-12 victory over West Craven Friday, that moment came on the first drive of the third quarter.

The Eagles had the ball and a 12-8 lead, facing a fourth-and-18 from their own 46-yard line.

While in punt formation, the snap sailed over the head of West Craven punter Danny Harvey and rolled all the way back to the 10-yard line, where Harvey was downed by the New Bern defense.

“That play was the turning point of the game to me, no question the bad snap was where the game changed,” West Craven coach Matt Riggsbee said. "We just have to learn how to quit being a one half football team."

Two plays later, Bears’ quarterback Mike Hughes ran in from four yards out for the second of his eventual four rushing touchdowns, and New Bern had a 15-12 lead it would not relinquish.

Hughes had 15 carries for 67 yards and the four scores, in addition to being 7-for-17 passing with 130 yards.

“In the second half last week against Havelock, I felt like the guys kind of rolled over and didn’t finish the game, but tonight they did,” New Bern coach Bobby Curlings said. “We wanted to be more successful in the run game and having Cody (Purdie) back healthy helps a lot with that.”

“Coach told us when we were down at halftime that we needed to pick it up and we came out and just played hard,” Purdie said. “Our linemen have come a long ways and their blocking schemes were great tonight and they created holes I was able to hit.”

For the Eagles, senior quarterback Alkeim Harley was under heavy duress most of the night and could not get time in the pocket to impose the Eagle passing attack.

The two times Harley did have appropriate time in the pocket, the Eagles scored on deep bombs to Darious Abrams (47 yards) and Tyrone Brown (62 yards).

Still, Harley managed to go 8-for-15 with 157 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

New Bern’s defense came up large for the visitors with two interceptions and a bevy of sacks of Harley.

Donovan Rivard and Deandre Jones each had three sacks, while Doug Arnold and Shamond Squires recorded the picks.

New Bern gets its first win of the season and improves to 1-2, while West Craven falls to 2-1.

The Bears will be at Jacksonville next Friday and the Eagles will host Washington.